The Sun. — London, England, 1864-01-11 00:00:00

The Chinese Auxiliary Force, The following is the correspondence relating to the disbanding of the European Chinese naval force under Captain Sherard Osborn No. 1. °: PRINCE SONG'S LETTER OP INSTRUCTIONS TO INSPEC • TOlt-GENERAL H. N. LAY. " Pekin, Oct. 24, 1862. " The Prince of Kong, charged by Imperial authority with the superintendence of foreign affairs, addresses a communication to the Inspector• Gen eral, Mr. H. N. Lay. " The official records show that at the interview which the Acting Inspector-General had with me in the autumn of 1861, he represented that, in order to render our navy efficient, it was absolutely neces sary that foreign vessels and foreign guns aho'ild be procured. He subsequently addressed me in writing, begging that orders might be issued to the 'custom houses to contribute towards the purchase of foreign vessels and guns. The Foreign-office thereupon memorialized the Emperor on the subject, and his Majesty's assent having been obtained, orders were issued to the custom houses to pay into the hands of the Acting Inspector-General the amount sanctioned for the above purpose, and the Acting Inspector-General was desired to act without delay. " The Acting Inspector-General has now come to the capital, and apprised us that all the arrange ments connected with the purchase of vessels and guns he has officially handed over to the Inspector- General, Mr. Lay, to carry out on his behalf in England, and that he has remitted the moneys paid by the custom houses to the Inspector-General Lay, who is proceeding in the matter with the utmost despatch. " Mr. Hart has stated further that the ability of the Inspector-General Ley is great, and that he possesses a mind which embraces the minutest de tails; that he is. therefore, fully competent to make the requisite arrangements with more than a satis factory result, and he has accordingly requested us to address a daspatch to the Inspector-General Lay to serve as his authority. "In any arrangements which the Acting Inspec tor-General might have made with respect to the purchase of vessels and guns, there is no doubt he would have taken the greatest pains and would have left no point unconsidered, but as he has now re quested that the management of the whole affair should be intrusted to the Inspector-General, this will be, of course, still more satisfactory. " I therefore address this despatch to the Inspec tor-General and transfer the management of the affair into his hands. "There are three important points : " 1. The purchase of the vessels, guns, gunpowder, coal, and the miscellaneous articles for the use of the vessels. "2. The engagement of officers, gunners, and seamen, and others fur services in the vessels ; and the arranging the terms and conditions of every de scription of agreement. " 3. The retention, as proposed, of a sum of money to meet the salaries and wages that may be settled by the agreements, and also to provide for the payment of compensations and other items in time to come. " The above three points we leave the Inspector General to dispose of as in his discretion he may see fir. " The money already collected from the custom houses has been transmitted through Mr. Hart to Mr. Lay, and that still due should be, as collected, handed through Mr. Hart to Mr. Lay, who is alone charged with the responsibility of its disbursement ; and we leave it to Mr. Lay to appoint, if he think fit, a person to help him, and also to make whatever arrangements may in his judgment seem desirable, with a view to the successful carrying out of the objects in view. " China is in urgent need of the vessels and guns: effort should therefore be made to effect with the least possible delay their completion and despatch to Shanghai, there to await orders. The work (put into the vessels) should be strong, the materials genuine, both of super-excellent quality, that so the high trust we have confided (to Mr. Lay) may be fulfilled. " In the event of the Inspector-General's returning to hia post before these ships and guns are ready and despatched to China, and if any other circumstances, which we cannot here foresee, shculd arise, let the Inspector-General report thereupon to us himself, and recommend a person trustworthy in all respects to act in his room—so that, in respect of the arrangements subsequently made, the reapo:laibillty may bo definitely fixed." No. 2. " AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN INSPECTOR GENEB.A.I. IL N. LAY AND CAPT. SHERIRD OSBORN, R.N., C. 13. " London, Jan, 16, 1863. " The following conditions embody our mutua understanding : " 1. Osborn agrees to take command of the European Chinese navy for a period of four years, and stipulates that there shall be no other European naval Commander-in -Chief. "' Osborn, as Commander-in-Chief, is to have entire control over all vessels of European construc tion, as well as native vessels manned with. Euro peans that may be in the employ of the Emperor of China, or under his authority, of the native guilds. " 3. Lay will procure from the Emperor such an authority as may be necessary to cover Osborn's nets as the Commander-in-Chief of the European Chinese nevy. ... " 4 4. Osborn undertakes to act upon all orders of the Emperor which may be conveyed direct to L l y, and Osborn engages not to attend to any orders conveyed through any other channel. _ " r 5. Lay, upon his part, engages to refuse to be the medium of any orders of the reasonableness of which he is not satisfied. " 6. Osborn will appoint all officers and men on board the vessels of the force, subject, however, to the approval of Lay as the representative of the Emperor. '' 7. Osborn's subordinates will not be at liberty to act without his permission, and Lay will not authorise his subordinates to call upon them to act without having first consulted Osborn and obtained the necessary order. " 8. Lay and Osborn agree to carefully inquire into any complaints that may be preferred against the officers and men employed in the force by Chinese officials. "' 9. The force being European, it is indispens able that the flag under which it acts should have an European character. " ' First, to secure its own efficiency. Secondly, to insure for it due respect in the eyes of the foreign communities. 4 , i Lay, therefore, agrees that the flag shall be green with two yellow diagonal bands bearing in the centre a blue imperial dragon. si Green is chosen because it is rarely used by E ur opean powers, and therefore not likely t o b e confounded by any other national colours. fit 10. Lay undertakes to procure from the Emperor, as soon as possible, a sum of money a s a guarantee fund, to cover the pay and maintenance of the force for four years, and in the meantime it is understood that the vessel with their equipment will constitute the security for the just claims of the force. " 11. In the event of the death of either lily or Osborn, these conditions which are entered into with the authority of the Emperor of China are not, it is understood, in either case to be departed from. " 12. The conditions of this u nderstanding, the terms of the formal agreement, and the printed in structions, shall be formally ratified by the Emperor at Pekin, before Osborn shall be called open to act with the force under his command. "' 13. In the event of Odbora's death from dis , ease, while in command of the force, Lay will re commend the Emperor of China to make some gran to his widow and children. (Signed) " c H, N. LAY. " 4 EIIEBARD 03BORN.' " Our motive for drawing up the above memo randum is that there may be hereafter no deviation from a plan of action, long deliberated and decided upon by mutual consent, " We have to deal with Asiatics prone to deceit and falsehood, ready to evade any engagement, directly it interferes with their views or monetary interests. We are about to afford them ma terial military aid, and it behoves us to guard against its being misapplied,! and thereby bring scandal upon ourselves and those who in Great Bri tain have promoted our views; above all we are to take care that the great power and proportionate responsibilities conferred upon us by her Majesty's Order in Council be not abused by uF, by our suc cessors, or by the Chinese authorities. " Clause I.—This condition needs no explanation, It is made a sine qua non by Capt. Osborn. Clause 2.—This we agree is most necessary. We are aware that for some time local Mandarins have been, without Imperial authority, purchasing ves sels of Earopean construction, arming them, placing crews of all nations in them, and giving over the command to British or American subjects selected by themselves. Lorchas or junks commanded by Europeans, half pirates half privateers,:ge swarm ing in the Yangtsze. "They claim in many cases to be men-of-war be longing to particular Mandarins, Guilds, or Hongs. It is the object of this force to extinguish all these dangerous freebooters. They should come under Imperial authority, without which no European has a shadow of right to levy war i❑ China. " Clause 3.—This is inserted to meet any objec- tion that might be raised on the ground that Euro peans are serving without commissions or direct authority from the Emperor. " Clauses 4 and s.—These are to meet the follow ing difficult questions :—ls this squadron to carry on war in China upon a Chinese method? Through what channel is Capt. Osborn, unacquainted as he is with . the language, to communicate with the Emperor or Regent? How shall he be protected against the charge of disobedience of orders ? How are cruel or unjust orders from Pekin to be pre vented? How shall European officers and seamen levy war for a barbarous Sovereign without being made to participate in acts which our country would repudiate ? How shall the officers be pro tected from orders, the execution of which would involve breaches of iuternational law or treaty rights. " There is in our opinion no other way of meeting these difficulties than by arranging that, as Mr. Lay is to live in Pekin, and as the revenue which he collects is to be the guarantee for the mainte nance of the force, he, as one well competent from a knowledge of the language and people should be the channel of inter-communication between the ruler of China and Captain Osborn, and that in the event of any order being at variance with law or justice, he should submit it to the European repre sentatives, and, supported by them, decline to com municate it to Captain Osborne. The remaining clauses do not seem to us to need explanation." No. 3. INSPECTOR-GENERAL H. N. LAY, C.B„ TO CAPTAIN SHEIZARD OSBORN', R.N, C.B. " Pekin, Sept. 25, 1863. " Sir,—l beg to inclose for your information the translation of a letter to your address from the Prince of Kung, which was sent to me in Jelly last, and to invite your attention to the marginal notes I have appended to it. From my remarks you will see that the Prince has not been quite accurate in making it appear that I had requested the appoint ment of a Chinese officer to command the steam fleet, or that I had consented that the fleet should bo placed under the irresponsible authority of the local officials, as my letters to his Highness, which are upon record, show. " I never gave more than a qualified assent to the rules with which ho has furnished you. I ac cepted the money clauses, but those having refe rence to yourself and the fleet generally I told the Ministers plainly would have to be considered upon your arrival. TnePrince doubtless thought that by declaring positively that these rules had been agreed to by me the chances of your offering any opposi• lion to them would be dimiuiibed.--I have, &c., " H. N. Lay. No. 4. PRINCE KUNG'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO CAP • TAIN SHERARD OSBORN, R.N., 0.1.3, (WITH MR, LAY'S MARGINAL NOTES.) " Pekin, July 8,1663. " His Imperial Highness the Prince of Kung issues these instructions to Osborn, the Assistant Com mander-in-Chief of the Chinese steam navy. " Whereas China, in view of the then unfinished military operations, did last year direct the Inspec tor-General of Customs, Lay, to purchase foreign steamers and guns for use in the fight and for the subjugation of the foe, and whereas the said Inspec tor-General has arrived at Pekin, and reports that the seven steamers and the storeship purchased will shortly arrive at Shanghai, and requesting the ap• pointment of an (fiber to take the command, highly recommends the said Osborn, as having hitherto in England been zealous in the performance of his duties, of high military cipacity, and being throughly versed in navy affairs, able to acsist a high Chinese officet* in the manage ment of such vessels, so that there may there from be expected a speedy sweeping away of the appearance of rebellion ; and whereas I, the Prince, memorialised the Throne, requesting that the officer already nominated by the Governor-General of the Two Keang and the Governor of Keang-soo might be appointed Chinese Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, and that the said Osborn might be appointed Assistant Commander-in-Chief, and that the expenditure of the fleet should be controlled for a period of tour years by the Inspector-General Lay ; and 'whereas on the 23d of the sth Moon (July 8) the Imperial edict was received, ' Let it be as proposed. Respect this.' " Now, therefore, in addition to hurrying de spatehea to the Governor-General of the Two Keang and the Governor of Kean-soo, that they may at once order the Chinese Commander-in-Chief to re pair to Shangllai with his officers and men, and take up his commission on board ship, it is further ex tremely proper to furnish the said Osborn with a copy of the agreement, in five articles,f entered , into between the Inspector-General Lay and the Foreign-office, and to appoint the said Osborn to be Assistant Commander-in-Chief, and to direct him, in accordance with the articles of the agree mint, to co-operate with the Chinese commander in-chief in the command of the fleet now commis sioned, " It is to be expected that the fleet will act with vigour against the enemy. The crews are to be kept under strict discipline, and not suffered to annoy the people. if trading vessels, whether Chinese or foreign, illegally engage in the carriage of muni tions of war, they arc to be seized and detained until receipt of orders from the Foreign-office. If there are pirates on the Chinese seas or rivers from time to time, no matter where the place may be, they arc to be captured and destroyed, in order to the complete restoration of tranquillity. "As regards smuggling and smuggling guilds at " (Enclosure.) the ports on the coast and up the rivers, the fleet is authorised to take measures for the due repression of the same. The said assistant commander-in chief will, moreover, consider himself under the orders of the Governor-General of the Two Keang and the Governor of Keang-soo, and will take their instructions as to the disposal from time to 1 time of his force, "Five rules agreed upon respecting the steam fleet : -- T " 1. It has been settled that the post of Chinese Commander-in -Chief of the steam fleet now pur chased shall be filled by the high officers selected by the Chinese Government, and that Captain Osborn, C. 8., a British subject, shall be assistant Comman der-in-Chief for a period of four years. The affairs of the fleet to be managed by the said Commanders in-Chief in a friendly spirit of co-operation. While * This is not correct. So far from requesting that a Chinese should be appointed, I told the Ministers when they brought forward the proposition that it was altogether out of the question. -t The Prince chooses to assume that the rules were agreed while the fact is th a t I d ec l ared over and over a to ga b i y m again th e a ' t assent to them was impossible, my most decided opinion being that to accept the terns proposed would be to court certain failure and discredit. + I forwarded a translation of our agreement officially to the Prince, and in my covering letter called his special atten tion to the point embodied in that agreement—viz., that you would be under the orders of the imperial Government at Pekin, and the Imperial Government alone. His Highness ignored myletter, and up to this time has not acknowledg:d its receipt. Neither has he, I may add, approved the gene ral agreement and book of instructions, which shows (were other proofs wanting) that he conid not have been under the impression that the questions relative to the steam fleet were disposed of. Capt. Osborn assists the Chinese Government in the command of the fleet he will take the instructions of the Governors-General and Governors as to the employment or distribution of the force, in all operations he is always to confer personally with those officers before either undertaking or staying these, and is to accept the Chinese decision as final.* " 2. Captain Osborn, i❑ the capacity of Assistant Commander-in-Chief to the Chinese Government, will receive a commission from the Foreign-office giving him the requisite powers. The foreign crews will be duly controlled by him; and in the event of any individual injuring the people or acting in a lawless manner, Captain Osborn will exercise due severity in the punishment of the same, in order to the sustaining of proper discipline. " 3. In order to the insuring of beneficial results from the fleet now purchased by the Chinese Go vernment, Chinese sailors, as time and circum stances will permit, ought to be chosen for service on board the steamers, in order that they may be. come experienced, and that long continued practice may prevent them from forgetting their duties, and thereby rendering the fleet useless. The working of the ships and the management cf the guns and other arms Captain o.,born and the other comman ders will exert themselves to teach to such sailors in order that they may attain a real acquaintance with the same. "4. It is agreed that for the support of the fleet, consisting of seven steamers and one storeship, there shall be appropriated the monthly sum of 75,000 taels. This amount is to cover the expense of salaries, wages, rations, ammunition, coals, rewards, compen sations, as well as every other possible and, at the present time, impossible to be indicated expendi ture. The control of the expenditure is confided to the Inspector-General Lay. The office of Customs at Shanghai will provide 10,000 taels monthly, the Kiukiang Customs will provide 10,000 taels monthly, the Foochow Customs will provide 34,000 taels monthly, the Amoy Customs will provide 6,000 taels monthly, the Canton Customs will provide 10,000 taels monthly, and the Swatow Customs will pro vide 5,000 taels monthly. In all will be provided monthly the sum of 75,000 taels, which in the pro portions above-mentioned will be received from each office of Customs by Mr. Lay monthly. Every three months Mr. Lay will send in an account of the expenditure to the Foreign cffice, which, in turn, will communicate the same to the Board of Revenue. Should there be any surplus money, Mr. Lay will retain it for future use. "5. From the 17th day of the 6th moon—that is from the Ist day of August, it will be the duty of each of the said officers of Customs to hand over in full before making any other appropriations from the duties received, the monthly sum fixed on to the person appointed by the Inspector-General Lay to attend at the bank to receive the same. In the event of the money not being forthcoming, the In spector-General Lay will at once proceed to deduct the same from the duties. For a period of four years, and for each month during that period, this rule is to be in force." No. 5. " CAPTAIN OSBORN'S REMARKS UPON PRINCE KUNG'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS. " Pekin, Sep. 28, 1863. " In the first place these instructions are in direct cDntra.ven',ion of my formal agreement with Mr. Lay, which runs to the following effect : "'That I was to be Commander-in Chief of the European Chinese Navy, with entire control over all vessels of European construction as well as native craft manned with Europeans in the employ of the Emperor of China, or under his authority, in the employ of natives, and I was to have an authority from the Emperor to cover my acts as the Comman der-in-Chief of the European• Chinese Navy. On the other hand, I bound myself to act upon all orders from the Emperor convoyed through Mr. Lay, and not to attend to those delivered through any other source. " A copy of this agreement was furnished to the Prince, yet, in spite of it, and, indeed, ignoring it entirely (for 1 am told he has not even acknowledged the document), the Prince sends me orders to place myself and my people under the authority of the Foutai Le, as well es that of no less than three other provincial authorities. "Prince Kung acknowledges that the appoint ment of Commander-in-Chief of my force was filled up by the Governor-General of Keang-soo, and merely confirmed by the Emperor ; and, further, he (Prince Rung) directs the said Chinese Commander in-Chief to repair on board a ship at Shanghai. This would virtually suspend me from the post I at present hold, by virtue of a temporary commission granted me by the Inspector-General, Mr. Lay, upon the authority of Prince Kung's instructions and premises of last year. " Apart from the conclusions which Mr. Lay has arrived as to the want of good faith displayed in the document before me, my own suspicions are aroused by the crafty wording of its contents. In one paragraph I am superseded, and have, apart from the Emperor, Prince Rung, and the Board called the Chinese Foreign-office, all provincial high officers placed over me ; in another I am enjoined to act in a friendly spirit of co-operation with my superiors ; and this is immediately followed by a carefully worded sentence, in which I am distinctly warned that the distribution of the force will be dependent upon the whim of the governors and governors-general of the provinces, that lam to follow their instructions in all things, and, as the original document runs, I am ' not to act, advance, retire, or remain stationary without conferring with those dignitaries, and to consider their decision as final.' "Mr. Lay says very justly in his marginal notes that those conditions would practically place me under the orders of the lowest officer on the list of either of the officials named. "I have no intention of submitting to such terms, and for the following reasons " 1. Naval operations for the suppression of all the disorders enumerated in the Prince's orders could not be successful, fettered as I should be under such a system. It may be the Chinese system ; if so, it explains their unfitness for war or naval operations. "2. I came here to serve the Emperor, and under him the Regent, not to be the servant of mere pro vincial authorities. On that point I stand distinctly upon the terms of my agreement. " 1 The officers and men of the force were en tered upon a specific agreement to serve me as Com mander-in-Chief. Directly a Chinese officer steps in as my superior in that force the agreement is null and void, and without it all law and order would cease and my power be at an end. " 4. By submitting to such instructions and vio lation of my original agreement I should at once deprive myself of the power to assist in carrying out in China the policy of Western civilisation. My force, powerful as it will be for good or evil, might be directed against the interests of oommeroe or of common humanity. Brutal butchery might be per petrated, and I should be powerless to prevent it. My men and officers, the pick of many from the Royal Navy of England, would be associated upon equal terms with the rowdies and pirates the Foutai might be pleased to employ. " My power to restrain my own men within the bounds of ordinary discipline would be nil, and the European-Chinese force, instead of being a blessing, would become a curse to the Chinese people and to the best interests of Europe in this empire. "5. If I was weak enough to forget what is due to my own position, and attempt to act upon such instructions, I am certain that I should come to a dead-lock with the provincial authorities within a month, exeetly as is at present the case with Major Gordon,R.E. He is insulted by his Chinese superior, the pay of his men suddenly stopped at the will of the Foutai, he is called upon to attempt impossibili ties and deprived of adequate forces, and he has again, for the second time, virtually resigned office as the military coadj itor of the Foutai. Yet they * These conditions would practically place you under the orders of the lowest officer on the staff of either of the offi cials named. Prince Kung has seen that our military offi cers will act under Taoutais and Foutais, and hence it has occurred to him that if you could be persuaded to occupy a similar position the Imperial Government would be relieved of all trouble and responsibility. I have told the Ministers that I would rather see the force disbanded and the ships sold than consent to such a proposition ; there can be but one naval Commander.in-Chief, yourself, and but ono maoter, the Imperial Government. IL N L, wish me to be ' the naval assistant of such a Man darin.' "6. To the argument advanced by the Chinese Foreign-office that the course proposed by Prince Rung is a usual one in China,' I reply I did not come here, or my followers either, to accustom ourselves to the treatment usual with Chinese sailors or soldiers, or to assist them in a retrogres sive policy in the treatment of European employes or Europeans in general. The employment of ships of war and war steamers of European con struction is an innovation, that of European officers and gentlemen slid more so. I and my force are part and parcel of a new order of things indicating progress in China.' I will be no party to her lapsing back into her ancient system and treating Europeans as if they were Chinamen. "European commerce in China, and consequent intercourse, is a departure from all foregone ens- toms. " The presence of Europeans at the open ports is the same. "The residence of European I,Pgations in Pekin strikes at the root of China's most ancient prej dices. " The entire responsibility of the conduct of the provincial authorities towards our merchants and missionaries being forced upon the Ministers at Pekin is another departure from the most cherished institutions of these people. " I merely claim for the European force under my command another stride in the same wise direction, and I will not, on all the foregone grounds, depart from a line of policy decided upon by Mr. Lay and myself after long and careful discussion—a line of conduct approved, I am sure, by my countrymen and profession, and which I see more and more reason not to swerve from since I have noted the present bearing of the Pekinese authorities towards foreigners. " I may edd in general terms that if I required any con firmation of my opinion of the utter impossibility of serving the Chinese Government upon the terms the Prince sug gests, I should find ample grounds in my own experiences while at Shanghai, as well as in the information General Brown gives me of Major Gordon's present position. I found on my arrival at Shanghai that the Foutai's agents had tampered with the crews of the vessels under my orders. They were told that the Foutai would give them higher wages than those I engaged them at, that they would all be made officers, and that the discipline existing among the Europeans in his steamers was far pleasanter than the order I enforced. Puzzled to find such a different system existing in what was called the Imperial service, the men became naturally disaffected and anxious to leave me to join the Europeans employed by the Fouati ; and to enable them to do so without prejudice to their pockets I found they were actually offered £ .2 a head bounty, the money to be lodged in the names of the deserters in an English bank. I had to discharge 14 men, and was de.tained several days at Shan ghai in consequence. It was no fault of the Foutai'e that I was not detained there altogether. " Foutai IA is an able Chinaman, and as unprincipled as all Chinese officials, His plan would be to render me power • less, and then to use or toss me aside, just as he does all European leaders in his force. He is a civilian by educa tion, ruling over military and naval affairs without the slightest knowledge of either. He is squandering the re venue of the province as well as that derived from European trade, and is in league with unprincipled traders in Shang hai. Although he can procure from the British stores all such military supplies as he can require, he is encouraging the import of munitions of war by private firms, and grant ing permits to land the same in spite of all our proclama tions against the importation by foreigners of goods contra band of war, Having secured the services of an excellent officer in Major Gordon, who appears to have entered his service, not that of the Emperor of China (for he holds no authority from the latter), Foutai Le proceeds to render him powerless, and to hamper his action in too ways—first, by depriving him of the means to carry out any decisive measures ; and next, by placing in exactly similar positions a number of other Europeans, and playing one off against the other. Major Gordon wishes to attack Souchow-fog, and asks for 100 Europeans. The Foutai agrees, but says the 100 men must only be entered for one month. Gordon declines to enter into any such arrangement, seeing its in justice and folly. The Foutai insults him by questioning his desire to fight the rebels, and proposes tnat the assault ing column shall be formed of all the European officers in his employ, and that over their bodies the Chinese would advance to victory. " Again, what faith can I have in any mandarin's listen ing to my advances as a subordinate, when I am told by General Brown, Commander-in-Chief of our military forces in China, and the supet ior of the Foutai, that he will listen to no advice or suggestion the General offers, that he pur posely avoids all conference with him ; and when an inter. view is sought by General Brown insolently replies that ho is too busy to see him ? and be it remembered that Foutai Le is not a bit more unreasonable than'other mandarins,and hat he is an average spe,,imen of his class. SIIERARD OSBORN." No. 6. INSPECTOR•GENEILAL H, N. LAY, C. 8., TO CAPTAIN SIIEICAItD OSBORNE, IL N., C.B. "Pekin, Oct. 13, 1863. " Sir,—l regret to say that at an interview which I had to-day by appointment with the President of the Foreign office, Wansiang, he requested me to intimate to you that the Prince of Kung would decline to ratify the agreements entered into by us under his letter of instructions of October 1862.—1 have, &c,, "IL N. L.ty,' No. 7. CAPTAIN' SIIEBARD OSBORNE, R.N. C. 8., TO TILE DUNCE OE KUNO. " Pekin, Oct. 15, 186 " Your Royal Highness,—l have the honour to reques that you will be pleased to furnish me officially, and in writing, with your decision relative to the agreement entered into between your agent, Air. Horatio N. Lay, C. 8., In spector-General, and myself. "The Inspector-General informs me:that after a delay of four months and a half, dnring which time your Royal Highness has neither acknowledged a single letter nor that you intended to adhere to your manifest inten tion of re ferred to the agreemen ts, ' \V tnsiang informed him formally ignoring all such agreements, as evinced in your instruc tions already addressed to ma. "I may remind you that I have now been three weeks in Pekin fruitlessly endeavouring to point out to the members of your Foreign-office, through Mr. Lay, that your instruc tions to me aro entirely contrary to the understanding under which her British Majesty's Government permitted myself and others to agree to servo the Emperor of China, and that I declined to act except upon the terms explicitly laid down in our agreements. "To all these representations no attention has been paid. " I therefore avail myself of this opportunity to remind you of the circumstances under which the force I command has been placed at your disposal. Last year (1362) you ap plied in an unofficial form to the British Minister of Lega tion in Pekin for assistance to procure men-of-war of an European construction; you were recommended to employ your own official, the Inspector-General, as the best agent. You set aside a large sum of money; you ordered the ves sels, and you gave instructions to both Mr. Hart and Mr. Lay to procure not only ships, but proper officers and mon to fight and manage them ; and, lastly, you furnished your Inspector-General with a formal authority to enter into all such agreements as he might think necessary to carry out the object you had in view. Upon the strength of that au thority to your ageni, and supported as your wishes were by the official representations of his Excellency Sir F. Bruce, her Majesty's Government were pleased to suspend in favour of China the Neutrality Act, and the Admiralty of Great Britain granted me and other officers permission to serve the Emperor of China for a stated period, and every assistance was given by all departments to aid the Emperor to carry out the wishes expressed in your instructions to Mr. Lay. " The Inspector-General having satisfied me that the powers you had given him were ample, I entered into cer tain agreements with him, subject to your ratification as Regent of China. It only retahis for sue to s a y that m y power to maintain order and discipline in the force is now at an end, and that if I do not receive a fa vourable re p l y within 48 hours it will be necessary to immediately disband the force,-- , I have, dm, " SIIFRAItII OSBORN." No. 8. " CAPTAIN SHERARD OS B ORN , R.N., C. 8., To His EXCELLENCY SIR F. BRUCE , , $ .C.13., &c. “Pekin, Oct. 19, 1863 " Your Excellency,—Prince sung having failed to ratify the agreements entered into between Inspector-General 11. N. Lay, C. 8., and myself, it becomes neeessary for me to disband the European-Chinese naval force. " I have the honour to enclose you copies of the agree • ments in question, as well as all correspondence, and to re quest you wi►l inform me whether you see any objection to my surrendering to Prince Kung the S ships which I have brought to this country. They are Imperial property, and I have no right to detain them; but I would submit that that there might b 3 some danger if vessels of so formidable a character were trusted to the rowdies and pirates now so numerous in Shanghai, and who, I dare say, are quite ready to serve the provincial authorities without agreements or guarantees. "Directly I receive your Excellency's official instructions upon that point I shall, in conjunction with Mr. Lay, pro ceed to dissolve the force, sending the officers and men to England in detachments, and reporting all the circum stances to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and sending them an exact description of the ships if you decide upon not surrendering them.-1 have, &c., SHERARD OSBORNE." No. 9. "HIS EXCELLENCY SIR F. BRUCE, K.C.8., TO CAP TAIN SITERARD OSItORN, C.B. "British Legation, Pekin, Oct. 20, 1563. " Sir,—l have received your letter with its enclosures, informing me of the refusal of Prince Kung to ratify the agreements entered into by his agent, Mr. Lay, and your self, and of your consequent resolution to disband the force. " I have informed his Imperial Highness of my convic. tion that her Majesty Government would not have con sented to the organization of this powerful squadron had it not been on the understanding that it was to be placed under the orders of an officer, in whose prudence and high cha racter they had full confidence—and that I will not consent to the ships and stores being handed over to the Chinese Government without instructions to that effect from her Majesty's Government. " I, therefore, request you to take measures for keeping them in deposit until the pleasure of her Majesty's Govern ment be known,—l am, &c., " FREDERICK W. A. 13nucE," No. 10. CAPTAIN SHERARD OSBORN, R.N., C. 8., TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR F. BRUCE, K.C.B. "Pekin, Oct. 27, 1863. " Sir,—Consequent upon the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 20th inst., in which you acquaint me you will not consent to the surrender of the ships and stores to the Emperor of China, and desire me to take measures for keep ing them in deposit until the pleasure of her Majesty's Go vernment shall he known the following questions have arisen in my mind, upon which I solicit your early instruc- ions : " 1. If the Emperor of China should repudiate the ar rangements recently sauctioeed for the regular payment of this force, what steps am I to take to avoid selling the ships and stores according to the 10th article of my agreement ? As Prince Kung has already repudiated his former instruc tions to Mr. Lay, I am compelled to anticipate the proba bility of his treating all the engagements in the same fashion. "2. Where shall I procure funds for the maintenance of the force, pending the orders of her Majesty's Government ? "I have, &c., SILEBARD OSBORN." No. 11. "HIS EXCELLENCY Sltt F. BRUCE, K.C.8., TO CAPTAIN SHERARD OSBORN, R.N., C.B. "Pekin, Nov. 6, 1863. " Sir,—As you are aware, the scheme of keeping the ships of the flotilla in deposit, awaiting instructions from her Majesty's Government has been abandoned, and the Chinese Government has requested me to send the vessels to England to be disposed of. His Imperial Highness ex presses his thanks to yourself for the trouble to which you have been put in procuring the fleet, and in bringing it out to China, and requests you to accept 10,000 taels in addition to your pay for the labour entailed upon you by it. "He further requests that the ships may be put under another flag. That, however, is a point which must be left to your discretion. I have, therefore, to request that you will take charge of the vessels and men, with a view to the disposal of the former in England or in India, as you think best. The officers and men to be sent home and to be paid up to their arrival in England. "But as the contract may be construed to give them a claim for pay for three months after their arrival, or up to the .?oth of August, it will be advisable to obtain the opinion of counsel as to the liability of the Chinese Government, they having declined to accept the flotilla, on the ground of their agent having exceeded his authority in the conditions attached to the scheme, you will feel with me that our honour is involved in winding up this affair on terms as little onerous as possible to the Chinese Government. I will give in structions to the consuls to contribute what may be required, out of the moneys received by them on the indemnity ac count, to meet such part of the expenses of sending the vessels home as the Chinese Government is unable to pro vide for. Tho sum, so advanced, will form a lien on the ships and to be deducted from the expenses of sale, or set off against the ships and stores, should her Majesty's Go vernment decide on taking any of them back. I think it but just to you to express my entire approbation of the honourable and dignified course you have pursued during the discussion of the question at Pekin. An tflicer more alive to pecuniary advantages, less scrupulous as to the interests of Great Britain, and less careful of his own honour, might have admitted some unsatisfactory compro mise as to his position, and might have trust ed_to an arbi- trary exercise of the power wielded by him to have extricated himself from future embarrassments. By yourfirmneas you have saved Great Britain from complications, and you have vindicated the honoar of the British uniform in the ayes of the Chinese by refusing to accept an unbecoming position. However disappointing the result of your honourable wish to advance the cause of progress in China, you have the consolation of knowing that you have gained the respect and approval of persons of every nation who are acquainted with the course you lava pursued. " I am, sir, your obedient humble servant, . _ " FREDERICK W. A. BIM CE.' GENERAL MEMORANDUM) " Tien-tsin, Nov. 9, 18G3 " I have with great regret to inform the officers, seamen, and marines under my command that it has been necessary to send them to England in consequence of the Emperor of China having refused to ratify the agreement entered into between myself and his agent, Inspector-General 11. N. Lay, C,8., upon the faith of the Prince Regent's instruc tions. " The Emperor wished to place the entire control and disposition of the squadron under the irresponsible autho rity of the provincial mandarins, and to supersede me as Commander-in-Chief, leaving it to the local mandarins to form as many squadrons of European vessels as they might see fit, under different officers and under different systems of pay and discipline. " Were I to accept such a position for this force, and thus take service under provincial and subordinate Chinese offi cials, instead of under the Emperor of China, I should vio late the spirit and word of her Most Gracious Majesty's Order in Council, and act in disregard of the wishes of her Majesty's Government forgetful of every pledge I gave be fore I undertook the organisation of the squadron. " To surrender ourselves to the irresponsible orders of local mandarins would certainly make us participators in acts of plunder and cruelty which would bring disgrace uponus as British officers and seamen. " I have, therefere, had no hesitation in refusing to depart from the terms laid down long before we left England. " Provided the crews continue to conform to the rules and regulations of their agreement, they will be kept upon full pay until their arrival in England, and receive whatever further sum they may be justly entitled to under its con ditions. "It only remains for me to cordially thank the captains, commanders, officers, seamen, and marines of the squadron for their hearty support and excellent conduct during the time the vessels have been in commission, and to wish them a pleasant and speedy passage to their homes. "SHERARD OSBORN, Captain, Royal Navy." " Cheefoo, Nov. 14, 1863. " Sir,—'We, the captains and commanders of the Euro pean-Chinese navy, consider it but just to you to state for mally that the course you have deemed right to pursue in disbanding the said force has only served to strengthen those feelings of reliance and respect which induced us to take service under you. "And, further, that by your firmness with the Chinese Government in refusing to act under any other authority than that of the Emperor himself, you have saved us from an essentially false position, one which could only have been as repugnant to our own feelings as it would have been to yours.—We are, sir, your most obedient servants, " Huo it T. BURGOYNE, V.C., Pekin. "C. S. FORBES, Keangsoo. "S. MORIARTY, Ballarat. "NOEL OSBORN, China. "ALLEN YOUNG, Quantung. "G. B. NicaoLns, Tien-tsin. "B. CRVIKSHANK, Thule. "To Captain Sherard Osborn, Commander-in , Chief, European-Chinese Navy." THE ALABAMA. BATA.VIA, Nov. 14, 1863. Oa the morning of the 12th inst. the officers and crew of the American ship Amanda, GOO tons register, arrived at the United States Consulate here, reporting that on the night of Friday, the Gth inst., 120 miles S.S.W. of Java Head, in the Indian Ocean, the Amanda was burnt by the Alabama, Semmes commander. She had on board a ful cargo of sugar and hemp, shipped by Messrs. Ker and Co., of Manilla, and was bound for Queenstown. After the crew of the Amanda were taken on board the Alabama the ves sel was burnt, and the Alabama steered for Sunda Straits, where she arrived at night time and anchored close under the coast of Sumatra. When there she was informed by a Dutch vessel lying at anchor that the United States ship Wyoming was at Batavia, upon which she steamed on, always keeping close to the Sumatra coast, and finally run ning out of the Sunda Straits, stood in near North Island on the 10th inst., and at 5 p.m. signalled the American clip per ship Winged Racer, 1,770 tons register, Cummins com mander, which ship was °wiled by Mr. R. L. Taylor, of New York, and had on board a full cargo of sugar and hemp, bound from Manilla for New York, shipped by Messrs. Peele, Rubble, and Co. After distributing her crew in three of the ship's boats they were permitted to take such clothing, provisions, and water as they wanted and the boats could carry, and the ship was burnt. Capt. Cummins, who had his wife and child, went on board the British ship Julia, bound from Shanghai for London, then at anchor not far off, and they were landed at Anjer. The Alabama then put the crew of the Amanda into a boat, in which they arrived at Batavia. The Winged Racer sunk at half-past 8. When the Alabama was last seen she was steering for the northward. The United States' ship Wyoming left Batavia on the morning of the Bth inst. for a cruise, having been detained at Batavia in order to repair her machinery. The Amanda was the ffrst vessel destroyed by the Alabama since she left Cape Town. By later telegram the Alabama was cruising between North Island and Nicholas Point. The Wyoming had gone on a cruise to Christmas Island, supposed to be a coaling station for rebel steamers. No lIomE complete without a WILCOX AND GIBBS' SEWING-MACniNE. Simple, compact, efficient, durable, and noiseless. Warranted to fulfil all the requirements of a perfect family .nachine. Prospectus free on appliCation at N.O, 13 5 , ltegent-Wcct, W.—LA.DvT.I THE COLONY OP VICTORIA. We take the following summary of news from the Melbourne Age of Nov. 25 The transportation question occupies the public mind, to the exclusion of almost every other topic. We await the result of the remonstrances to the Home Government with feverish anxiety. "The general half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the National Bank of Australasia was held on Tuesday, 3d Nov. Sir F. Murphy occupied the chair. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. They represented the affairs of the bank to be in a very satisfactory state, and that a net profit had been made for the half-year, after paying off bad and doubtful debts, of £26,038 bs 4d. The report also showed that £11,463 12s lld had been received for pre miums on shards. From these sources a dividend at the rate of S per cent. per annum was declared ; the balance of the preliminary expenses was paid off, amounting to £6,000, and £15,000 was placed to the reserve fund. Mr. Andrew Sutherland was unanimously elected to the office of direc tor, in the room of Mr. George Rolfe, resigned. "A new harbour, named Martin's Bay, has been dis covered on the west coast of New Zealand, from which the Otago fields may be easily and expeditiously reached. This discovery is considered of the greatest importance, as by it the distance, in point of time, between Melbourne and the New Zealand goldfields is very considerably lessened, and already associations aro being formed for the settlement of the new territory. Those best qualified to judge are of opi nion that before long, Dunedin and Port Chalmers will rank second in importance to the new township and harbour, which will be formed on the opposite coast of the island. "A new mineral has been discovered in the neighbour hood of the Upper Yarra, or rather in the locality which may be more correctly described as the basin of the Yarra. The mineral resembles that known as sapphirine, and is harder than topaz, which it scratches. It will be principally valuable for the purposes of the lapidary, polishing other stones, &e. Mr. George Ulrick, the well known mineralo gist, is about to analyse and name this, which will be the first new mineral known and described in Victoria. Al though it has as yet only been found in the portion of the colony referred to above, we understand that it is likely to be met with wherever the granite formation predominates. GOLD AND THE GOLDFIELDS. The past month has been one of considerable activity on the goldfields. Mining operations have been of a more ex tended character, and the diggings population have no rea son to complain of the returns. The Raywood rush, so named after the original prospector, near Bendigo, has been gradually increasing in importance since its first opening at the close of last month. It lies six miles north of the Se bastian, and the only drawback seems to be a scarcity of water, there being no proper supply for washing purposes nearer than four or five miles. Goid is found in large quantities at a depth of from 30 to 35 feet, but when the sinking is carried deeper, the yield perceptibly falls off. The gold is heavier than that of the Sebastian, and appears to be more plentiful than in that locality. No defined lead has yet been discovered, and though the quartz reefs wear a very promising appearance, they have not yet been properly prospected. Within the laOt fortnight a large township has sprung up, and the storekeei;ers, who already derive support from a very large population, are sanguine of the establishment of a prosperous and perma nent goldfield. The various auriferous localities of the neighbourhood, have, in some instances turned out rich yields. Early in the month a 176 oz. nugget was found in the Red Jacket Gully, and a nugget weighing 6oz. was washed out in Armfield's Gully. The diggings at the Sheep wash have also been locked np of late. Attention has re cently been turned to the necessity of utilising quartz tail ings in some more efficient way. It seems that a party ot Chinese at Sandhurst have made an offer to keep several miles of road in repair for the privilege of using and wash ing the sweepings. If a road contract had been made to pay on such terms as these, it is evident that there is still room for improvement in our quartz crushing machinery. Mining matters at Majorca, which have been very dull for the past week or two, are again presenting an improved aspect. The most remarkable and noteworthy project that has been startled in this district, or, in fact, upon any of the goldfields, of late, is the formation of a company for the purpose of tunnelling the Redbank and Moonambel dividing range from its southern base. such a work will require a very largo capital ; but it is said that there is every reason to believe the speculation will prove a paying one in the long run. Rich alluvial deposit/5 have been found on the Moonambel and Redbank sides of the range, and scarcely a lump of quartz with which this mountain barrier is so pro fusely strewn, when tested, fails to show the presence of the precious metal. A new rush has set in between the Black Swan and the United Kingdom Companies, and the yield is likely to be from 15 dwt to 20 dwt to the load. At Inglewood the Great Western Reef, which was deserted some time since, has been again taken up, and some good gold-bearing stone has been struck. A rush is also reported at Burnt Creek, which supports a large number of miners. Several new rushes have also occurred about Amherst, and some very good stone has recently been obtained from the Star Reef. The hole has been profitably worked at a depth of 70 feet, and at the lowest level the quartz so far improved as to yield at the rate of nearly an ounce to the ton. The shaft is now being carried deeper, and the stone has improved in pro portion to the depth reached. A rush has broken out at Fryer's Creek, in the Castlemaine district, and it is ex pected that some two miles of ground will bo further remu nerative. The returns front the reefs are not below the average. Several new reefs have been lately opened at or near, Tarrengower, and very satisfactory prospects have been obtained from them. One called Butler's Reef was disco vered by two farmers—father and son, of that name—at Joyee's Creek, on the road to Smeaton, about 11 miles from Maldon. Another reef has been struck by a Mr. Braithwaite, of the Mount, who was last week induced to prospect an old shelf on an abandoned reef, about a quarter of a mile south of Cookman's Reef. It is supposed that the stone raised will yield over one ounce to the ton. A third reef has been opened by Messrs. Crockett and Sons, about two miles south of Otago Reef, Sandy Creek. They have already crushed one large lot, and obtained nearly two ounces per ton. The reef, which has, of course been crushed, is christened Tees total Reef. EXECUTION OF LUKE CHARLES, The ex-policeman, Luke Charles, who was sentenced to death at the recent Liverpool assizes for the murder of his wife, suffered the extreme penalty of the law at Kirkdale G rel on Saturday morning. The circumstances attending the murder are most curious and interesting. The prisoner, previous to 18.54, was a mem ber of the Irish police, and stationed at Heath, near Erne, in county Wicklow. In the Christmas of that year he mar ried the unfortunate deceased, but they did not live toge ther. In Ireland the police are amenable to military and very rigid discipline, and as they live in barracks they are not allowed to marry without leave, and it unfortunately happened that Charles did not obtain permission to marry when ho made the deceased his wife. He lived in barracks, she remaining with her friends, After the prisoner had been married two or three years he formed the acquaintance, at Emo, of a girl, named Ellen Ford, to whom he proposed marriage ; and Ford, thinking him a single man, accepted him. The prisoner did not fix a time for marrying Ford, tell ing her he would do so as soon as he could procure a situa tion in some police force inEngland. The prisoner ultimately did leave Ireland in 1861, and on the 2d April in that year ho called at the house of a sister of his wife's, named Julia Dunn, who lived at Pendleton. He remained for some time at Pendleton, and after reporting himself to the police autho rities at Preston, he was sent to Bury, where his wife joined him in lodgings at the house of Mrs. Porrith, a widow. Mrs. Porrith had a daughter, Amelia Farrar, and on the evening of Feb. 13, last year, both these persons saw the deceased and the prisoner going (though not together) in the direc tion of the Bury station, whence trains left for Manchester. Mrs. Charles met Mrs. Porrith near the house, and giving her the key, said she was going to her sister's at Pendleton, and that she would return about nine o'clock tha same evening. The train left at 5.43 p.m„ and at Clifton four persons got out, two of them women, who waited for a train from Manchester and went in it in a northerly direction ; white the other two, a man and a woman, took a direction which would lead them to the towing path of the Manches ter, Bolton, and Bury Canal, These latter persons were the prisoner and his wife, and they proceeded along the canal bank for some distance in the direction of Pendleton. Before reaching Pendleton the murder of Mrs. Charles was committed, but the details of the deed are not known. Most probably Charles stunned his victim by repeated blows on the head, and threw her into the canal. During the early part of the morning of the 14th of February, about seven o'clock, a person named John Green, a workman at Messrs. Knowles's colliery, was going along this canal aide, when he observed a person on the towing path, carrying a clothes • prop. On coming closer up he found this man extracting from the canal a quantity of female apparel—a night-dress, _ _ crinoline, and other things. His suspicions were excited, and grapnels having been obtained, the body of a woman was dragged up a few yards from the place where the clothes wore found. The body was taken to the Pendleton Work house, where an inquest was held ; but, as no pet son could identify the body, it was buried on the 18th at the Pendleton Cemetery. The usual " routes "or descriptions of the body were published and sent to the various police-stations, including the station at Bury where the prisoner was, and were hung up for a considerable time. After the murder the deceased woman's sister and many other friends asked Charles where his wife had gone, and how she was, and he answered them in this manner :—" Mary is not at home. She is in county Wicklow." " She is in Dublin in St. Mary street. with a Miss Evans, and if she is not there I do not know where she is." " I know well enough where she is, but I will not satisfy you." "My wife is in Ireland with her mother. I transmit her money by Post-office order." In August the prisoner went over to Ireland and brought the girl Ellen Ford to England with him, previously trying without success, to induce a Roman Catholic priest to marry them. The culprit's transactions with Ellen Ford are best described in her own words :—" I have known the prisoner five or six years. He was a police-officer stationed at The Heath,' Maryborough, when I first knew him, and I was living at Emo with my mother. When I had known him about two years he proposed to marry me. I accepted him, He asked lue to go with him to the priest to be married first in August, 1862, and again in August, 1863. The priest to whom we went on the first occa sion as the Rev. Mr. O'Connell. I cannot remember how long he had been paying his addresses to me be. fore that time. I remember that he told me when he left the Irish constabulary that his object in doing so was to make me comfortable. He visited Ireland three times after he came to live in England. The first time was in November, 1861; the second was in August, 1862 ; and the third in August, 1863. I corresponded with him during his absence. The priests refused on each occasion to marry us for want of the requisite certificates. After the lost refusal, the prisoner remained for a short time at Eel mother's house, and on the 7th of August I left Ireland with him. We arrived at Bury on the same day, and went to lodge at Mrs. Whittington's. The prisoner and I occupied separate rooms. The prisoner remained at Mrs. Whittington's two days, and then went to lodge at Mrs. Balfe's. I remained a week at Mrs. Whittington's and then went to Mrs. Balk's also. I stayed there only t wo days, and then went to my sister's, at Conis. on, in West ° moreland. The prisoner accompanied me as far as B olton. Deceased's sister, Julia Dunn, was continually subjecting Charles to a harassing cross-examination, and at last his crime was disclosed. r..lhe told Charles on one occasion that if ho did not voluntarily say where his wife was he would be compelled to tell. He said, "If I don't know, they can not make me tell." After this Julia Dunn said, "Charles, I understand you have been to Leland ; have you brought Mary with you ?" Ile said, " Oh, no; she is here in Bury: Julia Dunn replied, "Ad right, where is she ?" "Oh, you must not see her; she told me I was not to tell you." Dunn asked what objections the deceased could have to her know hag where she was, and Charles then became angry, and said, "You must go to the police-office, if you want to know." This was an unfortunate speech for Charles, for Julia Dunn went to the police-office, and after the prisoner had been several times spoken to by his superior officers s strict investigation was instituted, and the deceased's body was exhumed and recognised. It displayed marks of vio.' lence, and her life had evidently been destroyed by foul means. Our readers know the rest. Oa Friday evening Luko Charles retired to rest soon after ten o'clock, and requested the turnkeys to call him at five o'clock in the morning. The turnkeys, however, did not disturb him as they were desired, and he slept veil soundly until six a.m. Ho partook of the usual gaol break' fast at ten o'clock, and Captain Gibbs, the governor, then asked him if ho wished to make any statement, but he said he did not. The Rev. Mr. Gibson, the Catholic chaplain, administered the Holy Sacrament and gave the unhappy culprit the last blessing of the Church, and also read the recommendation to a departing soul. Charles made no con fession to the Rev. Mr. Gibson, unless it was in the confes sional. He was visited twice after his conviction, on the first occasion by a woman with whom he had lodged at Burl, and last Sunday by his brother, who accidentally heard through the medium of the public papers that a man named Luke Charles was to be hanged, and fancied it might be e brother of his whom he had not heard of for many years, and accordingly went to the gaol. Charles walked upon the scaffold immediately after 12 o'clock at noon on Satur' day. He was deadly pale, and kept his eyes closed although he walked steadily. Calcraft adjusted the cap and rope with great rapidity, and the drop having fallen, Charles we s dead in an instant. Between 5,000 and 6,000 people asseur bled to witness the execution. • COUNTRY MARKE TS. YORK--SATuRDAY. Since last week Lie frost has been very severe. Young wheat is looking extremely well, Lut a moderato fall of snow would now be of great advantage to the plant. TherO was a tolerable attendance of farmers at market to-day, ace an average supply of wheat was offering. Last week's cur' rencies advanced fully is per qr. Wheat, red 38s to 4 1 s Oats . lBs to 2 0§ White do .42s to 46s Beans 380 to 40 1 Barley .28s to 32s Feas ....—s to —"E s Malt, 58s to 60s per qr. ; rye, 30s per qr ; flour, 3° 3 to 32s per sack. NORWICH—SATURDAY. There was a better feeling in the trade, and prices mal be considered is per qr dearer than on this day se'nnigll re ° There was a moderato supply of barley, and, the fa rina demanding more money, there was not much doing. Flout 6d to is per sack dearer. White wheat. 44s to 46 I Red wheat 43s to 42° Malting barley ...36s to 37s Chevalier barley 34s to 3 68 Distilling do . 30s to 32s I Oats.. Flour, 28s Od to —s Od per sack from the miller NOTTINGHAM—SATURDAY. At this corn market to-day there was'a fair attendance 0 farmers and factors, and the show of Wheat was tolera ble ' Sales were made freely, at is advance on the previous weeir. —White wheat, from 408 to 45s ; red wheat , 39 s t o 42 " , ' Barley—malting, 308 to 40s ; grinding, 27 s to 30s. „110 old, at 248 to 31s Od; new, 2 0 s to 255. Leans sold at o' to 43s per qr. ; new, 358 to 375. GRANTHAM—SITuRDA.Y. Old white wheat, 44s to 48s ; red, 39s to 42s per 36st' l new white, 40s to 455; red, 32s to 425. Malting bold,: 32s to 36s per qr ; grinding, 28s to 30s ; oats, old, 240' 28s ; new, 20s to 24s ; beans, 38s to 40s ; peas, 34s to 365, NOILTHAMP TON—SATURDAY. We had an average show of wheat on offer at this ca ll market to-day, in good condition. The trade wa s firs' —White wheat, 40s to 46s ; red, 37s to 40s ; fine, -r, 3 to —s per qr. Barley, 35 s to 37 s — gr indin g , 2S s to 3:: Oats, 2Ss to 32s per 21 stone. Beans, bas to 425. re' 34s to 40s per qr. LEI CE STER—SATunn.iY. We wero supplied with a fair quantity of wheat to-cliir, from the growers. Late prices generally maintained I ° mos all descriptios of rain. New white wheat, g 40s to 45s ; red, ,38s to 41e per 36° stone. Old red, 39s to 41 s per 36 stone. Barley, m alting , 6 new, 33s to 38s per qr.; grinding, 29s to 325; old eat 25s to 30s • new oats, 22s to 25s per 24 stone. 1 3 ° 43" old, 33s to '428 per 38 stone ; flour, 30s to 35s per 20 otooo4 Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. IS' Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Ja n ' ,7 1 Jan. 1 2 ' via Marseilles '-'' Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. Feb. 9• Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Ilelena J. : ;3 . , China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southatapton.Jan• 4, via Marseilles • • • Jan. ' Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampt on .. 1 3 ' India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton.. Jan .lo. via Marseilles.... Jan. ii India (Bombay), via Southampton ............ Jan, ,„ via Marseilles ........ Jan* 11. Portuga 1.... Malta, „Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Jan. 11' via Marseilles Jan. Newfoundland Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Jan . by U.S. packet.... s , by Canadian packet.. .Tan 10 , W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Tenerife.. Tan. 14. Bahamas, via New York lexico. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, 1 J - 110 , P' California. and British Columbia.. i , A MODEL COUDITY.—At the Epiphany Qui t Sessions Sessions of the Peace for the County of WestmoreD'eca opened at Appleby on Monday, the chairman a nnoo o o the gratifying tact that the calendar was blank. There tp not a single prisoner for trial. He complimented the O ilft o , upon this immunity from crime even in the hardest tiraeti,, [ADVERTISEM.ENT.]—Consumption, all nervous, bi ll° • liver, and stomach complaints, in every stage, are only b pi g ravated and accelerated by drugs of every description, wo p e rfectly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revsle/3,1 Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which 0 4, been considered hopeless. We quote a few.—Cure No. 62,9 :4 Miss Lange, 18 years of age, cured after the medical men abandoned all hopes of her recovery from the last stag e p u lmonary consumption, with fearful cough , expector afv , exhaustion, spitting of blood, perspirations , ho llow chce ii emaciated to a skeleton. She is now , thank Go d, a perfecto healthy, blooming, fleshy girl,—N. Lange, le ft Police. Cure, No. 46, 270 . Mr. James Rob erts, of Frltalet Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blot:4 1 ;0o derangement, and partial deafness.—Cure, No. 47,12 1 . 0 , Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indig e6ti p;o• gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.—Cur e ' 0 f 54,816. Ihe Rev. James T. Campbell, Fakenham, N °t ,..ted of indigestion and torpidity of the liver, which had l'ets'o, all medical reatment. In tins, llb, 28 lid; 21b, 4 s 6 ', 7/, ils; 121 b, 225; 241 b, 4 0 s. Barry du Barry and Co., i n . all Regent-street, London ; also Fortnum and Mason; a 0 33 .1 grocers and chemists in every town of the tinned Ka~ Births. , s tA HAnnisoN.—On the 7th inst., at 133, Upper Thaille' the wite of Mr, A. S. Harrison, of a daughter. .01 M'GILL.—On the 3d inst., at Pilgrim's Hall rilgof Hatch, Brentwood, Essex, the wife of Captain,Dlive'h M'Gill, a daughter. la ce, RENDELL.— of On the 7th inst., Mrs. Rondell, Old rt' Croydon, of a son, Marriages. STEWART—CHEATE.—On. the 7th inst., Eclil ll3ll . 1,0 0 Alexander Stewart, Esq., Bombay, second son of au; , 0 11, Colonel Stewart, of Strathgarry, to Elizabeth Moy, eldest daughter of Lieutenant-General Sir Johu Cli K,C.B. °1 . 5 13 HEATLEY—MILLETT.—On the ithinst , at St. G e Pt W YO9 Hanover-square, Captain Moreton John.WheatlePilijoh to Edith Frances, youngest daughter of Cha rles 141 Esq., of Queen's-gate-terrace. hs. ie ATKINS.—On the Bth in Deat st., at Counter-hill, Upper V'w ham, John Atkins, Esq., aged 82. ~ Dillf BlB.Cli.—On the 6th inst., Mr. Chas Birch, of Via 6r. Wandsworth, aged 76. fic 4' ELY.—On the 7th inst., at Ely House, Dover-street, don, the Right Rev, the Bishop of Ely, aged 8 4 . •061 HERRING.—On the 7th • . at Putney,' v 110 11 inst., Esq., aged 54. O lt JEPHSON.—On the 6th inst., at Tianworth ifouse./9. Hounslow, the Rev. Thoms Jephson, 8.D., age d i i , t' PLUMPTRE.—On the 7th inst., at Fredville, John r e r,:eli e 4 ton Plumptre, Esq., for many years M.P. for Ba st aged 73. Vie VTGENS. —On the 7th inst., at Streatham, Edw ard late of Kennington, aged 68. London: Prind and Pubiished by WILLLAJIAND- 0 , lit of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TUE SUN Ofric iite Strand, in the Precinct of the 3avoy , in the Co diddle:oX —Monday, J anuary 11, 1561. g 0 C 1 THE SUN, LOADON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1864. I tl bti